<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2020-12-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000042316</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GOLDFIELD CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GV</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001551395</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Bicks David P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>21 EAST 87TH ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10128</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-12-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>U</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares of common stock, par value $0.10 per share, of The Goldfield Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the &quot;Company&quot;) that were tendered to FR Utility Services Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (&quot;Acquisition Sub&quot;) and a wholly owned subsidiary of FR Utility Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (&quot;Parent&quot;), in the tender offer commenced by Acquisition Sub pursuant to the terms of that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 23, 2020 (the &quot;Merger Agreement&quot;), by and among the Company, Acquisition Sub and Parent, to purchase all of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company at a price per share of $7.00, net to the seller in cash, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes. The tender offer expired at one minute after 11:59 p.m., New York City Time, on December 29, 2020 and Acquisition Sub accepted all shares that were validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the tender offer.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David P. Bicks</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-12-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
